• M Carrington Reid, Christianna S Williams, John Concato, Mary E Tinetti, and Thomas M Gill.
• Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. mcr2004@med.cornell.edu
• J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Dec 1; 51 (12): 1710-7.

ObjectivesTo determine whether the presence of depressive symptoms is an independent risk factor for disabling back pain in community-dwelling older persons.DesignProspective cohort study with a 12-month follow-up period.SettingGeneral community.ParticipantsSeven hundred forty-four members of a large health plan who were aged 70 and older and independent in bathing, walking, dressing, and transferring at baseline.MeasurementsThe presence of depressive symptoms, defined as a score of 16 or greater on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, was documented during a comprehensive baseline assessment that also included information regarding participants' demographic, medical, and physical/cognitive status. The occurrence of disabling back pain was ascertained during monthly telephone interviews.ResultsDepressive symptoms were present in 153 (20.6%) participants at baseline. Over the 12-month follow-up period, 186 participants (25.0%) reported disabling back pain during 1 to 2 months and 91 (12.2%) during 3 or more months. After adjustment for potential confounders, the presence of depressive symptoms was independently associated with the occurrence of disabling back pain (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.3 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.2-4.4) for 1 to 2 months with disabling back pain; AOR=7.8 (95% CI=3.7-16.4) for 3 or more months with disabling back pain).ConclusionThe presence of depressive symptoms is a strong, independent, and highly prevalent risk factor for the occurrence of disabling back pain in community-dwelling older persons.

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